Internal-combustion engine



Jan. 30, 1945. w. H. conos INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed oct. 11, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Jan. 3.0, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE 2,368,412 INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE William E. Cords, San Diego, Galli. Application October 11, 1943, Serial No. 505,781

' (cl. 1er-1i 4 Claims.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and relates particularly to improvements relative to the connections between the crank-shaft pitman and piston of the engine.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide an internal combustion engine with means for developing a greater torque during the initial portion of the combustion cycle oi the engine. As the internal combustion engines are now designed, the explosive charge is ordinarily tired at or close to the moment that the pitman holds the piston at dead center position with relation to the crank-shaft. As a result, in the first portion oi' the combustion cycle very little torque is developed by the engine.

In the present invention, I employ a piston which is provided with two relatively movable parts, one part being plvoted relative to the other part, and I provide a crank arm connection between this pivoted portion and the pitman of the engine, which is designed to permit the explosion at the dead center position of the pitman to apply a torque for rotating the crank-shaft. By this new arrangement of parts, I have greatly increased the torque of the engine and improved considerably its performance.

The present invention will best be understood from the following description of the preferred form or forms of engines embodying the present invention, as described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line l-i of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar horizontal section, showing the invention used in connection with the cylinder of modined shape.

Figure 4 is an elevation in section, showing the manner of converting a conventional engine to incorporate the present invention.

Figure 5 is an inverted view of the piston of Figure 4. I

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line l-t of Figure 4. i

Figure 7 is a section on the 1in ure 4.

Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 and 2, 2 indicates cylinder walls which in cross-section, as viewed in Figure 2, may be somewhat eggshaped so as to place the larger area of the piston (hereinafter described) to one side of the pivot point o1' the pitman. However, an alternate form for the cylinder cross-section may be that indicated by 2a in Figure 3.

1--1 0f Fig- Within the cylinder there is provided a piston including two pivotally connected parts 3 and 4, l being the upper piston member and 3 being the lower piston member. These members are pivoted together, as indicated at 5, at a point near the smaller end of the cylinder. The lower piston member 3 is provided with a sleeve to which are journalled pins 1 of the pitman or connecting rod 8. This pitman or connecting rod t is connected in the usual manner with the crank 9 of the crank-shaft Ill. The crank-shaft It is located in` alignment with the axis of the pins l and, therefore, to one side of the center of the cylinder 2. The connecting rod 8 is provided with an arm li extending at substantially right angles to the body of the rod e and formed rigidly with the rod 8.

The varm I! extends to nearly the opposite side of the piston from the side to which the sleeve s is connected, and there the arm Il is pivotally connected to the link l2, which is in Ytnrn pivotally connected to the top piston inem-A ber I. Rings i3 are provided with a top piston member and one or more rings Il may also be provided with a bottom piston member, which may have an elongated skirt I5 extending downward beneath the link l2.

In Figure 1 the engine is shown in its intended position just at or substantially at the initiation of the combustion cycle of the engine. The ,connecting rod 8 is on the dead center position betweenthe crank-shaft ll and its pivot pins 7 connecting it with the lower piston member 8. In

this position, however, because oi the lateral arm connected to the connecting rod and its connection in turn with the upper piston member 4, the combustion of the charge within the cylinder is capable of providing substantial torque tending to rotate the crank 9 about the crank-shaft. At the instigation of combustion the upper piston member I pivots relative to the lower piston.

member 3 in a turning movement developed by the arm Il on the connecting rod 8, which in turn provides a torque acting to rotate the crankshaft.

Now, referring to Figures 4 to v'7, inclusive, I have shown a modiiication of the invention dev signed to enable the ordinary engines ci' commerce to b'e converted to incorporate the principles of the present invention. In said gures. 20 indicates any ordinaryy cylinder, 2i the crankshaft of the engine which is in this case indicated as in alignment with the `center of the piston 20, A crank 22 is provided as connected by a connect.4 ing rod 23 pivoted at 24 to the lower end oi the piston member 2l. An upper piston member 2l is provided which is pivoted as indicated at 21 to the lower piston member near one side oi' the cylinder 20. Rings 2l and 29 may be provided with-upper and lower piston members.

The connecting rod 23 is provided with an in-' tegral laterally extending arm 30, which is pivotally connected to the link 3|, which in turn is pivotally connected at 32 to upper piston 28. The engine shown in AFigures 4 to A'l operates in a vmanner similar to that of Figures l and 2. The arm 30 and its link connection 3| with the upper piston member 26 enables the development of a turning movement on a connecting rod 23 at the start of the combustion cycle. This turning movement applied to the arm 23 is in turn et fective for applying a torque for rotating the crank-shaft 2 I.

While` the particular engines herein described have proven capable in practice of accomplishing the objects of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of modification and change, and this invention includes such modification and change as come within the `scope of the appended claims.

der and crank-shaft of an upper and aA lower pieton membermovable in said cylinder, the upper piston member carrying piston rings and being 'pivoted to the lower piston member near the cylinder walls, a connecting rod connected to the crank-shaft and pivotally to the lower piston member. said connecting rod having a laterally extending arm linked to the upper piston member. l

3. An engine. comprising a combination with a crank-shaft and a cylinder, the cross-section of said cylinder having an enlarged side and a reduced side, the crank-shaft being displaced from the center .of the cylinder towards the reduced side, of an upper and lower piston member :or said cylinder, the upper piston member being v pivotally mounted on the lower piston member near the reduced side and a connecting rod from said crank-shaft pivotally connected to said lower piston member, said connecting rod having a laterally extending arm linked to said upper piston member.

4. An engine in which means are' provided for applying torque between the piston and crankshaft in the dead-center position of said crankshaft, said engine including a cylinder and crankshaft, a lower piston member movable in said cylinder and pivotaliy supporting an upper pis'- ton member, a connecting rod between said 

